SHC allows benefit of SRO 497 to importers of tile other items

KARACHI: A Customs Appellate bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Omar Sial on Tuesday allowed importers of tiles and other items from China to avail benefit of SRO 497 of 2009.
The benefit of the said SRO was denied after issuance of SRO 1035 of 2017 which increased the custom duty and other taxes from 37.5 per cent to 46 per cent.
The bench earlier heard counsel from Franklin Law Associates and others appearing in more than 60 identical petitions challenging the denial of SRO 497. The counsel submitted that the said SRO is valid and enforceable for imports from China.
The bench ordered release of more than 100 consignments imported by different petitioners at a rate of 37.5 per cent as per SRO 497 of 2009. The bench however ordered that 20 per cent Regulatory Duty which is still under dispute and under challenge before the same bench would be deposited with the Nazir of the court till decision in petitions pertaining to imposition of RD.